GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 183, 1 February 1912, Page 7

GENERAL NEWS.

A farm in the Tokomaru district li. the extraordinary carrying capacity of ten sheep to the acre. This splendid result has been gained chiefly by the aid of a top-dressing of dried flax, which gives such a prolific growth of grass that even with ten sheep to the acre it it alm&st impossible to cope with the fast growing, pastures.

Mr. Bates, the weather man, who has just returned from a trip to Australia, says he was quite satisfied with Xew Zealand's climate after his experience in Australia. "I was burnt during the day and stewed at night. Here one can eat, drink and sleep in comfort—in Australia it ends with being able to drink in comfort."

Official estimates that have been published show that Spain is losing about 200,000 of its population' through emigration to Brazil, Chili and Argentina. Eight thousand people sailed for these South American republics last week, and the exodus has at last become so great that the shipping companies are now declining passengers.

At the" Dannevirke Police Court last week, before Mr. McCarthy, S.M., Harry Monteith claimed £lOl damages for ejectment from the Drill Hall by William Frame on the occasion of Sir Joseph Ward's visit in December last. The defence was that the plaintiff's interruptions justified his ejectment, and no more force was used than was necessary. Judgment was given for defendant, with costs. A similar action against lan Simpson, for assisting in Monteith's ejectment, was v.ho dismissed, with costs.

There is a remarkable tree or shrub in a small gulch near some springs in Western America. It is about Oft or 7ft in height, with a trunk at its base, is three times the size of a man's wrist. It •is remarkably characteristic as to its foliage, which, at certain seasons of the year, is so iuminous that it can be distinguished on the darkest night for a distance of more than a mile,'while in its immediate vicinity it emits sufficient light to enable a person to read the finest print. The luminous property is due to parasites. i

Persons who attend outdoor gatherings in New. Zealand have not the perils ,to contend with that assail the holidaymaker in Australia. A party enjoying a picnic in a rural district in New South Wales had just sat down for dinner under the shade of some trees, when a'carpet snake, measuring over six feet, dropped from a limb of a tree, and landed first on the shoulder of the hostess, then on the lap of a young lady sitting close by, and finally on the table. Most of the guests left the table; without asking leave, and generally there was a desire to let the newcomer have the feast to himself. Eventually, however, the intruder was killed.

A device, which is expected to be of service in saving life in case of shipwreck, has been invented by Captain John Pearce, a son of Colonel Edward Pearce, of London, and a brother of Messrs Edward, Charles and George Pearce, of Levin and Co., Wellington. The invention consists of patent chocks with automatic releases, which act as soon raft is submerged, freeing the raft from the sinking vessel. A test of the invention was given in Sydney Harbor on January 4, when a rait, held in position with ■the patent chocks, was submerged. As soon as this occurred the automatic releases acted and the raft floated up free of the object to which it was attached for the purpose of the experiment. A peculiar case came under the notice of Dr Colvin, of Molong, (New South Uales) last week. A valuable draught horse, belonging to Mr James Barrett of Oarra, was wounded near the shoulder with a hook, and infmediately commenced to swell all over in an amazing mainer. The doctor found that from its nose to its; hoofs the horse had swollen to almost twice its normal size. Apparently wind had got in between the flesh and the skin it out like a football. When JJr Colvin tapped the animal in several places the wind escaped with a hiss. The doctor says this is the first case of its kind that he has met with in connection with animals, though he had met with similar cases in human beings. Great excitement and curiosity was shown in "Bevis Marks," London, recently, by a fracas that occurred on the premises of "Ye Olde Red Lion Inn," during which an excited, dishevelled young man dressed in a bygone fashion, was forcibly ejected from the premises. The apparent "breach of the peace" was afterwards explained to the crowd as being only a' bit of acting by the employees of a picture theatre company, who were reconstructing a Dickens episode in "The Old Curiosity Shop" for film purposes. The hostelry is the one mentioned in the book, and the victim was our'old friend "Dick Swivcller." A striking life-sized portrait of Charles Dickens is displayed over the principal entrance of the house to commemorate the fact.

When Mr D. Bowman, M.L.A. leader of the Labor Opposition in Queensland, arrived home last week after a trip to the Old Country extending over 11 months, he was questioned in regard to immigration and other matters. He expressed satisfaction with tlie class of persons brought out to the State, and witli their treatment on the way out. TTe said that if Australian legislative reforms —especially on one man one vote —could be introduced in England, the Parliamentary Labor Party there would be greatly nugnmrnted. lie was of opinion that there' might be another outbreak of the railway strike within 12 months, as the nirn were dissatisfied with the findings of the Royal Commission. After a visit to Germany he had come to the conclusion that the conditions of the workers in that country were easier than those of British workmen. _ .